Bethany Hamilton

She only felt a tug, but she didn't feel any excruciating pain. Sometimes when people get severely injured, they don't feel much pain since the brain already knows there's pain. But Bethany experienced what's called phantom pain, when you feel pain for a limb that's not there and this happens when pain receptors don't reach the brain until after the limb is gone.

On October 31, 2003, Bethany Hamilton was surfing with Alana (her BFF), and Alana's dad and brother. Then when they got to the beach, there were other people that helped out, including a paramedic who happened to be renting a vacation rental right there.

Read Bethany's book called "Ask Bethany" for answers to all your questions.

On October 31, 2003, about 7:00 in the morning.

The shark that attacked Bethany Hamilton was a 14 ft. tiger shark.

it was a tiger shark

She had 2 of them.

Bryon Blanchard, Alana's brother

she is 37

Bethany Hamilton has become a source of inspiration to millions through her story of faith, determination, and hope. Born into a family of surfers on February 8, 1990, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, Bethany began surfing at a young age. At the age of eight, Bethany entered her first surf competition, the Rell Sun Menehune event on Oahu, where she won both the short and long board divisions. This sparked a love for surf competition within her spirit.

At the age of thirteen, on October 31, 2003, Bethany was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark while surfing off Kauai's North Shore. The attack left Bethany with a severed left arm. After losing over 60% of her blood, and making it through several surgeries without infection, Bethany was on her way to recovery with an unbelievably positive attitude. Lifeguards and doctors believe her strong water sense and faith in God helped get her through the traumatic ordeal.

Miraculously, just one month after the attack, Bethany returned to the water to continue pursuing her goal to become a professional surfer. In January of 2004, Bethany made her return to surf competition; placing 5th in the Open Women's division of that contest. With no intention of stopping, Bethany continued to enter and excel in competition. Just over a year after the attack she took 1st place in the Explorer Women's division of the 2005 NSSA National Championships - winning her first National Title.

In 2007, Bethany realized her dream and turned pro. Bethany has since participated in numerous ASP and World Tour Events with her major highlight being a second place finish in the ASP 2009 World Junior Championships.

Since losing her arm, Bethany's story has been told in hundreds of media outlets and she has been recognized with numerous awards, public appearances, and various speaking engagements.

In October 2004, Bethany shared her life story in her autobiography entitled Soul Surfer. Seven years later, the bookwas made into a major motion picture bearing the same title which released theatrically in April, and for home entertainment in August, 2011. Other books Bethany has written include "Devotions for the Soul Surfer," "Rise Above," A "Soul Surfer" Bible, "Ask Bethany," and "Clash," "Burned," "Storm," and "Crunch." Further, Bethany was the inspiration behind Becky Baumgartner's 2007 documentary entitled Heart of a Soul Surfer.

From a young age, Bethany's parents instilled their faith in Jesus Christ; and at age 5, she made the decision to have a personal relationship with Him. Bethany's foundation of faith has been her backbone; her source of truth, hope, and strength.

Out of the water, Bethany has grown from a young teenage girl with aspirations of becoming a professional surfer into a twenty-year old professional surfer with aspirations of becoming a beacon of inspiration and hope. Through the platform of professional sport, Bethany has been able to touch a large number of people with her message, charitable efforts, and overall spirit. Bethany just launched her own foundation, Friends of Bethany, which supports shark attack survivors, traumatic amputees, and serves to inspire others through her life story, and is involved in numerous other charitable efforts.

Bethany's story is continually growing as she strives to be the best at whatever God calls her to do. The future is truly wide open for this young soul surfer!

According to her website, her favorite food is vegetables

They put a green screen around her arm. A green screen is like something that actors and actresses stand in front, and then somehow they make it look like they were standing let's say in the middle of a Desert. So they put something like that around her arm to make it look like it got bitten off.

She is right-handed and she lost her left arm.

Hana Haku Wei its a traditional Hawaiian song in the beginning of the book and that's the main song to go with it

over 1million

According to the FAQ section on her website, her favorite food is vegetables

No. The movie Soul Surfer is based on the autobiography with the same name

According to Bethany in her book Soul Surfer, when she got bit, all she felt was a lot of pressure and lightning-fast tugs. It didn't really hurt her because scientifically, during major injuries, your body is aware of the injury but pain signals are not sent to the brain until later on (known as phantom pain)

Cody Gomes from Hawaii. His family owns the Gomes school buses in Oahu.

Bethany Hamilton has lived in Kauai, Hawaii for her entire life

A little after the attack, but she never wears it because wearing the prosthetic requires several straps and being fully-clothed and Bethany spends most of her time in the water, so the prosthetic only slows her down since she can't put weight on it

Yes. A Shar Pei dog named Hanalei, or Hana for short

They've been friends since birth cause they're parents are best pals.

According to Bethany's website, she received her first major surf sponsors from Rip Curl and Tim Carroll Surfboards when she was 9 years old in 1999

Actually it indeed come out a week ago. It is stilll in most theaters.

Her parents are Tom and Cheryl Hamilton. She has two older brothers, Noah (who is 8 years older) and Timmy (who is four years older) Noah has a wife named Becky and Timmy has a wife named Kyah. Bethany married Adam Dirks on August 8, 2013 and is expecting a son in the month of June 2015